The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-08
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.
JEFF DAVIS oS THE FE.sis.

he Believes That the Return OF the PIass WouId
Signalize the Return OF FraternaI Feeling Re.
tween the North and South.
Baltimore, June 30. The following let.
ter from Jefferson Davis has been received
here:
II the object now be to unite the people
OF the north and south, every siOn ~ tha
past conflict should, as far as practicable
be obliterated. To retain as a point OF
pride n flag captured in battle by either
the Union or Confederate soldiers, would
be equivalent to renewed exultation
OF triumph by the one or the other, and
surely not step toward the restoration
OF peace. Flags captured from a foreign
enemy may be retained as trophies after
peace, but here cessation OF hostili.
tics is not pretended to be the equivalent
to frat aternizing, and have heard of vari-
Gus instances in which Southern soldiers
having retained flags captured in battle
did after the war send them back to the
organization from which they were can
tured, and have heard OF no instance
when such trophy has laen dis.
played at reunion OF Southern
soldiers to manifest their success in bat.
tie over their Northern brethren. Our
men fought for principle, and that they
have not surrendered, but hopelessly lived
TO see the good sense OF the Northern men
revert to the teachings OF their sires and
re-Pstablish the government according to
the constitution on which it WAS founded.
When Richmond was evacuated, many
flags ca ptured in the battle were deposited
in the war office at Richmond. So
far as know. they were all
left there and found by the United
States troops when they entered the city.
This would at least exhibit proof OF the
fact that the Southerners did not wish to
treasure up such evidence Of any OF its tri-
umphs. When Washington received the
surrender OF CORVALLIS he required the
British cOlors to be delivered to him in
cases. The United States government
presented those flags to Gen, Washington,
and he left them to George Washington
Parke Curtis, by whom they we're entrust-
ed to me when / was secretary
Of war, and lett in the war office at
Washington. Though these were foreign
flags, and signs OF Il memorable occasion,
the then United States government did not
deem them of sufficient Importance TO be
exhibited as trophies OF a victory over
former enemy, but presented them to the
soldiers to whom they had been surrender.
ed. The South has manifested no desire
to have possession OF the flags lost in bat
tie. Their ET:SSiGc departed when they
were surrendered, and the excite.
ment which has been created over
the disposition to return both to the
North and the South, flags they had lost
in battle seems very like tempest IL a
teapot. Whether they should be consum.
ed the moths in the boxes in the United
States war office or be returned co their
former owners has one element OF value,
which is that the restoration would be a
declaration, such rs the old Romans made,
that there should be no triumph for a vic.
tory won in civil war. So far as it should
express the feeling OF restored fraternity,
it would be an advance toward that con-
dition which AL reasonable men will rec
ognize as desirable among those who are
to live together.